Mounting means for air conditioning units



P 1966 w. w. BELL, JR, ETAL 3,273,843

MOUNTING MEANS FOR AIR CONDITIONING UNITS Filed Dec. 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 7o lFlGI as 24 x67 85 -30 84 /l7 |s i IN VENTORS.

WILLIAM W. BELL, JR. BY DAVID E. MAC LEOD.

ATTOR NIEY.

Sept. 20, 1966 w, w, L JR. A 3,273,843

MOUNTING MEANS FOR AIR CONDITIONING UNITS Filed Dec. 14, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I, me. 3

INVENTORS. WILLIAM W. BELL, JR. BYDAVID E. MAC LEOD.

WWW

ATTORNEY.

l 1966 w. w. BELL, JR., ETAL 3,273,843

MOUNTING MEANS FOR AIR CONDITIONING UNITS Filed Dec. 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. WILLIAM W. BELL, JR. BY DAVID E. MAC LEOD.

W WW

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,273,843 MOUNTING MEANS FUR Alli CUNDl'llUNlNG UNHTS William W. Bell, lira, lilarcellus, and David E. MaclLeod,

Syracuse, Nfifl, assignors to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation ct Delaware Filed Dec. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 417,875 Claims. (Cl. 248--Ztl3) The invention further relates to a method for mounting an air conditioning unit having a protective housing with spaced longitudinally extending apertures in the base thereof in the wind-ow of a room in which the steps consist in securing a supporting bracket having spaced upstanding tabs on the ledge of a window opening, placing the housing in the window opening with the bracket tabs in selected housing apertures to hold the housing in the window opening with a predetermined length including one end thereof projecting outdoors, attaching a leveling gauge having a predetermined size between one end of the housing and the inside surface of the window sash to temporarily hold the housing in a substantially level position, fastening at least one strut-like support between the projecting part of the housing and the outside of the building to permanently fix the housing in level position,

conditioning units in the window opening has become increasingly apparent. Known supporting arrangements for larger room type air conditioning units often sacrifice safe and adequate support for simplified installation while other supporting arrangements, which provide complete and certain support for the air conditioning unit, are complicated in installation and expensive due to a multitude of assorted parts. For example, many room air conditioning unit supporting arrangements otter negligible protection against the unit or protective cover therefor falling out the window during the installation process due to some inadvertent act of the person or persons installing the unit. Additionally, many mounting arrangements set out a complicated and involved system often requiring the use of special tools to install and properly level the unit in the window opening.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mechanism and method for mounting an air conditioning unit of the room type.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simplified, economical and foolproof apparatus and method for installing air conditioning units of the room type in a window opening.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for supporting room air conditioning units which prevents the unit or the protective cover therefor from falling out of the window during the installation.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an improved mounting mechanism for large capacity room type air conditioning units permitting complete installation of the unit from within the room.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a unique mechanism for supporting room air conditioning.

units incorporating a device elfective to automatically insure correct leveling of the unit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for installing room type air conditioning units which prevents unauthorized removal from the outdoors.

This invention relates to a structure for positioning an air conditioning unit having a protective housing in the window opening of a building having a movable sashtype closure for the opening, comprising in combination means for holding the housing in a selected position in the opening, a part of the housing projecting outdoors; gauge means temporarily attachable to the housing and cooperaisle with the sash-type closure to place the housing in a substantially level position in the window opening; and brace means connectable between the outdoor part of the housing and the outside of the building to fix the housing in the substantially level position and permit removal of the gauge means.

and removing the leveling gauge.

Other objects will be apparent from the ensuing description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of an air conditioning unit supported by the mounting mechanism of the present invention in a window opening;

FIGURE 2 is an explode-d view showing details of the mounting mechanism of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating the exterior brace subassembly for the mounting mechanism shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the attaching bracket for the mounting mechanism brace subassembly;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the leveling gauge employed with the mounting mechanism shown in FIGURE *1;

FIGURE 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing a modified form of the mounting mechanism of FIGURE 1 of the drawings designed to accommodate window openings having an extended sill depth; and

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a modification of the exterior brace subassembly.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is depicted a window type air conditioning unit generally indicated by the numeral 1 having a generally rectangular outside cover or housing 3 adapted to enclose the unit refrigeration system apparatus. The refrigeration system apparatus includes indoor heat exchange coil "5, outdoor heat exchange coil 7, compressor 9 and indoor and out door fan drive motor Ell positioned on slidable base or chassis 1 3. Chassis 13 is insertable through the open front or inside end 15 of housing 3 :as will be more particularly explained hereinafter.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings, the lower edge of sides 22 of housing 3 is formed inwardly at 21 to define a pair of longitudinal base flanges or rails. That part of flange 21 adjacent each side 22' is raised at 23 and functions as a supporting track or guide for slidable chassis 13. A suitable bearing material 23' may be secured over track 23 to facilitate sliding movement of chassis 113 thereover.

Flanges 21 each have a like number of uniformly spaced slots 25 therein. Front and rear cross members 27, 28 respectively are suitably fastened between flanges 21. Each flange 21 is provided with a generally rectangular aperture 26 adjacent front cross member 27. The space between aperture 26 and first slot 25 is substantially equal to the spacing between adjacent slots 25. The rear edge of sides 22, top wall 24, and cross member 28 of housing 3 are flanged inwardly at 30 to define an opening through which outside air from coil '7 is discharged. Flange 3d additionally limits outward movement of chassis 13 within housing 3. Grille 19 covers the rear housing opening.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, a window sill bracket 31, formed with a depending L-shaped leg 32, is provided. Sill bracket 31 may be fixedly secured on window sill 33 and stool 33 by suitable means such as screws 34. Sill bracket 31 is preferably formed with transverse channel 36 having one side 36 adapted to abut outside edge 38 of window stool 33'. Suitable sealing means (not shown) may be positioned in channel 36.

A generally U-shaped clamping member 43 is securely attached as by welding to the underside of sill bracket 31 adjacent opposite ends thereof in alignment with each flange 21 of housing 3. Legs or tabs 42, 43 of clamping members 40 pass through and extend above the topside of sill bracket 31. The dimension between remote sides of tabs 42, 43 of clamping members 4-6 is substantially equal to the space between remote edges of adjacent slots 25 in flanges 21. Tab 43 of each clamping member 44) is formed outwardly to provide a hooked portion 45 adapted to overlay a portion of housing flange 21 to prevent upward movement of housing 3 relative to sill bracket 31 as will be more apparent hereinafter.

Aperture 47 in sill bracket 31 aligns with Opening 26 in housing flange 21 when tab 43 is disposed in first slot 25' of flange 21. Retaining plug 4 9, which may be formed from plastic material, is dimensioned so as to be snugly positioned within apertures 26, 47 to retain housing 3 against movement relative to sill bracket 31. Where tab 43 of clamping means 40 is disposed in one of the slots 25, bracket aperture 47 aligns with an adjacent slot 25. Retaining plug 49 is inserted through the opening defined by bracket aperture 47 and the flange slot aligned therewith. The head portion of plug 43 is provided with a transverse flange 50 which seals the space between flange 21 and the bottom of chassis 13.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 3, and 4, a generally U- shaped brace subassembly 51 comprising wall bracket 55 with struts 52 pivotally secured to opposite ends thereof is provided. A bracket 53 having a generally L shape when viewed in cross section is pivotally connected to each strut 52. Cooperating pin and slot means 54-, 56 respectively limit pivotal movement of bracket 53 relative to strut 52. Locking nut 58, threadly received on pin 54, retains bracket 53 in selected angular position.

Base 75 of bracket 53 is formed with hooks or locking tabs 76 insertable in selected flange slots 25 to fasten brace sulbassemb ly 51 to housing 3 in a depending relationship. Hooks 76 are preferably spaced from one another a distance substantially equal to at least three times .the distance between slots 25. Aperture 62 in the base 75 of bracket 53 is alignable with a flange slot bridged by books 76. Retaining plug 64, generally similar to the retaining plug 49 described heretofore but without the transverse head flange 50 of plug 49, is insertable through the opening defined by aperture 62 and the flange slot aligned therewith to lock bracket 53, and brace subassembly 51, against longitudinal movement relative to housing 3.

Wall bracket 55 is provided with openings therethrough to facilitate fastening thereof to the outside of the build- To facilitate installation of the unit housing 3 and insure that housing 3 is properly level, a leveling gauge 66, seen in FIGURES 1 and of the drawings, is provided. One end 67 of gauge 66 has a substantially U shape disposable over the edge of housing top side 24. Opposite end 68 of gauge 66 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto. With end 67 of leveling gauge 66 caught over the outdoor edge of side 24, end 68 thereof protrudes upwardly adjacent window sash 71. Gauge 66 is dimensioned so that end 68 thereof is in substantial alignment with the inside surface 76 of window sash '71 when tab 43 of clamping means 40 is disposed within first flange slot 25. Preferably, leveling gauge 66 bears graduated markings therealong correlated to slots 25 to permit gauge 66 to be shortened by rebending gauge 66 adjacent end 63 whereby other mounting positions of housing 3 may be accommodated.

With sill bracket 31 fastened to window sill 33 and stool 33' so that side 36' abuts stool edge 38, housing 3 is inserted in the window opening with tabs 43 of clamping members 43 in a selected slot 25 in each flange 2 1. Hook portion 45 of tabs 43 overlays flanges 21. Housing 3 is moved downwardly to force tabs 42 through a second pair of flange slots 25.

The portion of tabs 33 overlaying flanges 21 serves to limit upward tilting movement of the inside end of housing 3 about the window stool. Tabs 42, 43, spaced apart a distance substantially equal the space between adjoining flange slots 25, prevent longitudinal movement of housing 3 relative to the sill bracket 31.

Should the position of housing 3 within the window opening be different from that established by insertion of tab 43 through first flange slot 25', the installer notes the slot through which the tab 43 passes and, using the correlating markings on leveling gauge 66, bends gauge 66 outwardly at the appropriate marking to size gauge 66 to the actual installation depth. With leveling gauge 66 properly dimensioned, upstanding end 63 thereof is substantially in alignment with inside surface 70 of window sash 71 when end 67 of gauge 66 is caught over the rear edge of top side 24. When lowered, inside surface 70 of window sash 71 abuts end 68 of gauge 66. By this arrangement, window sash 71, acting through leveling gauge 66, establishes a predetermined dimensional relation between the housing 3 and the window sill 33 thereby insuring the installation of housing 3, and chassis 13 of unit 1, substantially level.

It is understood that the term level referred to heretofore in describing the installed position of room air conditioner housing 3 is necessarily qualified by the desirability that the air conditioning unit 1 have a slight pitch to insure proper condensate disposal in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Thus the term level is not meant to convey an ideally horizontal position but instead to describe the desired operating position for the air conditioning unit.

Brace subassembly 51 is thereafter attached to housing 3 by inserting locking tabs 76 of brackets 53 in selected slots 25 in flanges 21. Wall bracket 55 may be then fastened to the outside wall of the building by suitable means such as screws, and locking nut 58 tightened to secure struts 52 in appropriate angular position. Attachment of bracket subasserrrbly 51 to the housing 3 and building outside wall may be effected from totally inside the area or enclosure to be conditioned, the open base of housing 3 permitting the installer to hang brackets 53 from flanges 21 and fasten wall bracket 55 to the building outside wall.

With subassembly 51 secured between housing 3 and the building wall, window sash 71 may be raised to permit the removal .of leveling gauge 66. To prevent unauthorized removal of housing 3 from the outdoors, retaining plugs 49, 64 are forced through openings 47, 62 respectively into the flange slots 25 or 26 aligned therewith. Flange 56 on plug 49 serves to seal the space between flanges 21 and the bottom of chassis' 13.

Suitable sealing and filling means (not shown) may be thereafter inserted between the outside of housing 3 and the sides and bottom of the window sash to complete the installation of housing 3. Chassis '13 may be thereafter inserted through front end 15 of housing 3 and slid therewithin to bring the outside end of chassis 13 into abutment with stop surface 30. Screw 84, adjustably supported in nut fixed to housing 3, may be then driven outwardly. Screw 84 cooperates with inside end flange 15' to prevent relative movement between chassis 13 and housing 3.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, brace subassem-bly 51 is modified to permit installation in window openings having an extended sill depth. In this construction, a relatively short strut 8 1 having a slotted opening 82 therethrough and adjustably connected to bracket 55 by pin 54 passing through slotted openings 56, 82 is provided in place of strut 52 described heretofore. Strut 81 is pivotally connected to wall bracket 55.

In assembly, brackets 53 are attached to flanges 21 of housing 3 in the manner described heretofore. The wall bracket 55 of the modified subassembly shown in FIG- URE 4 is placed on sill 80 and fastened thereto by suitaible means such as screws, opening 82 in strut 81 accommodating necessary adjusting movement of strut 81. Looking nut 58, threadly received on pin 54, may then be tightened to fix the longitudinal dimension of strut 81.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, slot-like opening 56 in brackets 53 of brace suba-ssembly 51 is defined by opposed saw-tooth edges forming a series of enlarged spaces 85. Struts 52 are provided with a pair of slot-like apertures therein having opposed saw-tooth edges forming a series of enlarged spaces 86, 87 therein. The dimension of spaces 85, 86 and 87 is slightly greater than the dimension of bolts 88, 89, the dimension across the apices of opposed saw-tooth edges being less than the dimension of bolts 88, 89. Bolt 88 on bracket 53 is insertable through a selected one of the spaces 86 in strut 52 whereby a selected longitudinal dimension of strut 52 may be established. Bolt 89 is insertable through aligned spaces 85, 87 in bracket 53 and strut 52- respectively whereby the angular relationship between strut 52 and bracket 53 may be established. Nuts 90 cooperate with bolts 88, 89 to lock the brace subassem'bly parts 52, 5 3 in adjusted position.

An improved mechanism and method for positioning an air conditioning unit of the room type in a window opening has been provided; a mechanism economical in manufacture, simple in use, and foolproof in operation. The improved mounting mechanism for room type conditioning units proposed prevents the room air conditioning unit housing from inadvertently falling though the window during the installation procedure. The improved mounting mechanism accurately establishes the proper operating position of the room air conditioning unit without requiring the person installing the unit to employ special tools while efiectively preventing unauthorized removal of the unit from the outdoors.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since it may :be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a structure for positioning an air conditioning unit having a housing in the Window opening a building having a movable sash-type closure for said opening, the combination of means for releasably holding said housing in a first position in said opening, a part of said housing projecting outdoors through said opening, gauge means temporarily attachable to said housing and cooperable with said sash-type closure to place said housing in a substantially level position in said window opening, and brace means connectable between the outdoor part of said housing and the outside of said building to fix said housing in said substantially level position and permit removal of said gauge means.

2. The structure according to claim 1 in which said gauge means comprises a strap-like member having a predetermined longitudinal size, a portion of said member being engageable with the inside surface of said sash-type closure.

3. The structure according to claim 2 in Which one end of said strap-like member has a generally U-shape for attaching said member one end over one edge of said housing, said strap-like member being comprised of a deformable material to permit resizing of said strap-like member to accommodate housing positions other than said first position.

4. The structure according to claim 1 in which said releasable holding means has an opening therethrough alignable with one of said base apertures, and plug-type locking means snugly insertab-le in said aligned opening and base aperture to prevent movement of said housing relative to said holding means.

5. The structure according to claim 1 in which said brace means includes a bracket attachable to said housing base and a strut-like member pivotally fastened thereto, said bracket having an arcuate slot therein, a locating pin on said strut-like member movably disposed in said bracket slot, and adjustable locking means on said pin for retaining said pin in selected position in said bracket slot to secure said strut-like member in predetermined angular position relative to said bracket.

6. The structure according to claim :5, said strut-like member having a longitudinal slot-like opening therein, said locating pin being disposed in said strut-like member opening whereby the length of said strut-like member protruding from said bracket may be varied.

7. The structure according to claim 6 in which said strut-like member has a second slot-like opening in alignment with said first slot-like opening, the sides of said bracket slot-like opening and said strut-like member first and second slot-like openings being saw-toothed, a second locating pin on said bracket and disposed in said strut-like member second slot-like opening, the dimension of said bracket slot-like opening and said strut-like member first and second slot-like openings between apices of the saw-tooth sides thereof being less than the dimension of said first and second locating pins to form a plurality of separated locating pin openings.

8. A leveling gauge for temporarily holding a roomtype air conditioning unit housing substantially level in the window of a building while the housing is permanently secured in place comprising a strap-like member adapted to overlay one side of the air conditioning unit housing, one end of said member being formed inwardly in a substantially U shape, said strap-like member one end being adapted to be hooked over one edge of the air conditioning unit housing, a portion of said strap-like member including the opposite end thereof protruding in an outward direction opposite one side of the window sash, said window sash one side being engageable with said member opposite end portion to hold said unit housing substantially level, said member being comprised of a deformable material and having a series of graduated markings thereon corresponding to various positions of said housing in the window to permit resizing of said member in correspondence with the position of said housing in the window.

9. In a structure for positioning an air conditioning unit having a housing including side walls with lower inwardly turned base flanges in the window of a building, each of said base flanges being provided with plural spaced apertures therewithin, the combination of a bracket adapted to be secured athwart the sill of said window, said bracket having an aperture therein and a pair of upstanding locking elements adjacent each end thereof, each pair of locking elements being disposable in selected apertures in each base flange with said bracket aperture in alignment with another of said base flange apertures, said locking elements cooperating with said base flanges to releasably hold said housing in the window opening with one end thereof protruding outdoors, brace means connectable between the outdoor part of said housing and the outside of said building, said brace means including an attaching member having an aperture therein with upstanding locking elements disposable in selected apertures in each base flange with said attaching member aperture in alignment with another of said base flange apertures whereby said brace means is releasably secured to said housing, and locking means extending through each of said aligned bracket and flange apertures and said aligned attaching member and flange apertures to lock said housing against movement relative to said bracket and brace means.

10. In a method for mounting an air conditioning unit in the window of a room, the air conditioning unit having a housing with spaced longitudinally extending apertures in the base thereof, the steps which consist in securing a supporting bracket having spaced upstanding tabs on the ledge of the window opening, placing the housing in the window opening with said bracket tabs in selected housing apertures to hold said housing in the window opening with a predetermined length including one end thereof projecting outdoors, attaching a leveling gauge having a predetermined size between one end of said housing and the inside surface of the window sash to temporarily hold said housing in a substantially level position, fastening at least one strut-like support between the projecting part of said housing and the outside wall of the building to permanently fix said housing in level position, and removing said leveling gauge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,448,359 8/1948 Davison 248-27 2,891,754 6/1959 Kuhlenschmidt et a1. 248-208 2,945,358 7/1960 MacLeod et al. 62262 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

I. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A STRUCTURE FOR POSITIONING AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT HAVING A HOUSING IN THE WINDOW OPENING A BUILDING HAVING A MOVABLE SASH-TYPE CLOSURE FOR SAID OPENING, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID HOUSING IN A FIRST POSITION IN SAID OPENING, A PART OF SAID HOUSING PROJECTING OUTDOORS THROUGH SAID OPENING, A PART OF SAID HOUSING TEMPORARILY ATTACHABLE TO SAID HOUSING AND COOPERABLE WITH SAID SASH-TYPE CLOSURE TO PLACE SAID HOUSING IN A SUBTANTIALLY LEVEL POSITION IN SAID WINDOW OPENING, AND BRACE MEANS CONNECTABLE BETWEEN THE OUTDOOR PART OF SAID HOUSING AND THE OUTSIDE OF SAID BUILDING TO FIX SAID HOUSING IN SAID SUBTANTIALLY LEVEL POSITION AND PERMIT REMOVAL OF SAID GUAGE MEANS. 